Automatic tie-dumping system



April 25, 1961 J. 1.. BONANNO AUTOMATIC TIE-DUMPING SYSTEM 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 9, 1957 Ticll. a}

INVENTOR Jo SEPH L. Bo/vn/v/vo BY a 04 1 #422 W J zffolmzrs April 25,1961 J. BONANNO 2,931,031

AUTOMATIC TIE-DUMPING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1957INVENTOR JOSEPH L. BoMq/v/vo ATTORNEYS April 25, 1961 J. L. BQNANNO2,981,031 AUTOMATIC TIE-DUMPING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 9, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR g4 Jos EPH LBo/vn/wvo BY w Mw, 7m #7,;

" ATTO RN EYS April 1961 J. L. BONANNO 2,981,031

AUTOMATIC TIE-DUMPING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 9, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a HlNVENTCJ-R A5 ,4 JbssPH 1.,B0A/ANN0 BY 777M241, 77 1/12, d 7

ATTORNEYS 2,981,0Qa1 AUTOMATZC TlEeDUMPING SYSTEM Joseph L. Bonanno,South Orange, N.J., assignor to The Lrouel Corporatiou, New- YorlnNtY acorporation of New York Filed Sept. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 632,943- Cla ms-(Cl. 46-40) This. inventionrelates generally to article handling andmore particularly to an automatic tie-dumping system and rail car usabletherein, this invention being especially adaptable for use in toytrains, for example.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic tie-dumpingsystem for progressively depositing ties along the path oftravel of avehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic tie-dumpingsystem of the character set forth in cluding abutment means disposed inthe path of travel of a vehicle from which the ties are to be dispensed,said abutment serving as means for initiating operation of a tie-dumpingassembly for progressively depositing ties carried on a vehiclelaterally of the vehicle in relation to the vehicles movement along itspath of travel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in an automatictie-dumping system a vehicle-driven tiedumping assembly mounted on avehicle which is confined to a' restricted path of travel, thetie-dumping assembly being actuated through operating means at apredetermined point along the vehicles path of travel, and

deactuated at a point removed from the first mentioned point along thevehicles path of travel.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide in an automatictie-dumping system of the character involved a tie-dumping assemblyoperable to deposit ties alternately toward opposite sides of the pathof travel of a vehicle in relation to the distance traversed by thevehicle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicleincluding a chassis frame having mounted thereon a body member, andmeans cooperating between said chassis frame and body member permittingthe body member to be retained on the chassis frame by means of a singlefastener accessible through the interior of the body member.

And yet another object of the invention is to provide a toy rail car forautomatically dumping ties progressively along the path of travel of thecar, the car including power means operated by movement of the car andoperable to operate power transmitting means operatively connected to atie-dumping assembly through the medium of control means operated by aforce transmitting lever engageable with afixed abutment at apredetermined point along the path of travel of the car.

And'a still further object of the invention is to provide a toyrail cardthe character set forth including selective clutch means operated bymovement of the car. along a predetermined path of travel, said clutchmeans operating a pivotal force transmitting lever operatively connectedto vertically pivotal conveyor receiving and discharging ties inrelation to movement'ofthe toy car alongits predetermined path oftravel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

In the drawing there are shown preferred embodiments ofrthe invention.In this showing-z nited States Patent Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan viewshowing the automatic tie-dumping system;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a rail car used in the automatictie-dumping system, with portions broken away and shown in section forclarity;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the car of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the car showing the parts in the positionassumed when the tie-dumping assembly is inoperative, portions beingomitted for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing portions of Fig. 4,showing the parts in the position as sumed when the tie-dumping assemblyis operative;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3, showing thetie-dumping assembly inthe position assumed when the tie-dumpingassembly is not being operated;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section showing a portion of Fig. 6, showing thetie-dumping assembly in the position assumed when the tie-dumpingassembly is operated for depositing a tie. laterally of the car;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on line 88 of Fig. 5, portionsbeing broken away for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of Fig. 6,portions being broken away and shown in section for the purpose ofclarity;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 1ti-1ti of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is anenlarged fragmentary section taken on line 1l11 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 3 on analternateembodiment of the toy rail car; and

Fig. 13 is a transverse section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12,. showingthe manner in which ties are dispensed toward opposite sides of the railcar.

Referring to the drawings in detail, especially Fig. 1, indicatedgenerally at 10 is a continuous loop of track comprisingparallel inner.and outer tracks 12 and 14 and a middle rail 16. The. loop of track isof a conventional character and although not shown, may be wired througha suitable transformer and'control facilitating the operationof electricmotordriven-cars. The loop of track defines the fixed path of travel ofa rail car indicated generally at 18. Disposed outwardly from the track12 is a first'vertically. extending striker member 20 of any ous parts,a .car 18 will have disposed thereon a pluralityof longitudinallyextending ties T, and after the car 18- passes the first striker 2b, theties will be progressively deposited laterally of the path of travel ofthe car 18'as- Indicated at 18' is the indicated by the dotted lines.car after all of the ties have been unloaded therefrom, and indicated at18" is the position of the car relative to the second striker 22. Afterthe car passes the second striker 22, the automatic tie-dumping assemblywill be inoperative until the car once more passes the striker 20.Ift'ne car is of a ,SllffiClfili. capacity to have loaded thereon-agreater number of ties than will be deposited along thetrack during thetravel of the car 18 from the striker Zttsio the striker 22, after thecar 18 passes the strike 2i} for the second time ties will again beunloaded.

The rail car 18 includes a frame or chassis indicated generally at 24and a body member indicated generally at 26. A truck assembly indicatedgenerally at 28 is secured centrally of the frame and a suitable couplerassembly indicated generally at 3%} extends rearwardly from the framefor connection to other cars of a, train. The rail car disclosed maycomprise thev meansof'locomotion for the train, and in this instance,may include a suitable electric motor indicated generally at 32 whichwill be operatively connected to the wheels of the truck assembly (thisconnection not being shown). The body member includes thereon powertransmitting means indicated generally at 34 including a clutchmechanism and vertically pivotal force transmitting lever, see Figs. 4,5 and 11, control means indicated generally at 36, see Figs. 4, 5 and 8and a tie-dumping assembly indicated generally at 38, see Figs. 6through 9, said tie-dumping assembly being operatively connected withsaid power transmitting means and control means.

The truck assembly 28, see Figs. 2 and 6, includes opposed pairs ofwheels and 42, respectively engaging the tracks 12 and 14. The wheels 40have formed thereon inwardly extending annular spur gears 44. The truckassembly 28 includes conventional current conducting collector roller 46riding on rail 16. The gears 44 drivingly engage pinion gears 48mounted. on suitable horizontally disposed shafts 50 carried by thecarriage of the truck assembly 28. The gears 48 drivingly engageopposite sides of a constantly driven pinion gear 52 supported on thehorizontally disposed shaft 54. The shaft 54 is constantly driven by thewheels 40 of the rail car during movement of the same, and suitablysecured on the shaft 54 is an elongated pinion gear 56.

Mounted on a shaft 58 disposed in spaced parallel relationship to theshaft 54 is a constantly driven drive gear 60 engaging the pinion 56.The gear 60 is displaceable along the longitudinal axis of the shaft 58and includes on one side an annular collar 62 forming an annular groove64. Formed on the opposite side of the gear 60 are radially extendingsuitably conformed clutch dog portions 66 which may be sector shaped asseen in Fig. 11.

.Tournalled on the shaft 58 adjacent the clutch dogs 66 is a clutch disc68 including clutch dogs 70, see Fig. 11, interengageable with the dogs66 when the gear 60 is displaced toward the clutch disc 68. The disc 68includes an eccentrically disposed laterally extending mounting pin 72extending away from the shaft 58.

Extending vertically from the frame in longitudinally spacedrelationship from the clutch disc 68 is a support bracket 74 supportingfor vertically pivotal or oscillatory movement on a transverse pin 76 aforce transmitting lever 78. One end of the lever 78 includes alongitudinally extending transverse slot 80 through which the pin 72 ofthe clutch disc extends. The outer end 82 of the lever 78 will be movedin an arcuate path as indicated by the arcuate direction arrow of Fig.11 when the clutch disc 68 is rotated.

The frame of the car includes an elongated longitudinal cut out portion84 formed rearwardly of the power transmitting means 34 whichaccommodates therein the control means 36, see Fig. 8. Supported on asuitable pivot element such as a screw 86 beneath the frame of the caris a horizontally pivotal actuating lever 88 opposite ends of whichextending laterally beyond opposite sides of the frame of the car andbeing progressively engageable with the striker 20 or 22. Prior toactuation of the tie-dumping assembly 38. the lever 88 will be disposedin the position shown in Fig. 4, and movement of the car beyond thestriker 20 will result in the lever 88 being disposed in the positionshown in Fig. 5. The frame of the car includes a transverse cut outportion 90 having formed in the lower wall 92 thereof, an arcuate slot94 concentric to the longitudinal axis of the element 86. Extending froma central portion of the lever 88 and through the arcuate slot 94 is asupport bracket 96 engageable at opposite ends of the slot 94, thuslimiting the extent of pivotal movement of the lever 88 about theelement 86. Extending forwardly from the frame of the car into therecess or slot 84 is an arcuate support portion 98 providing a shoulder100. The shoulder 100 has displaceably supported thereon, a suitablyconformed porti0n'102 of aforwardly extending control lever 104.

The forward end of the lever 104 is formed as an arcuate yoke 106extending into the groove 64 formed by the annular collar 62 on the gear60. The lever 104 includes a depending support portion 108 receivingthereon one end of a tension spring 110 engageable at its other end withthe support portion 96 extending vertically from the lever 88. Thetension spring 110 provides an over-center or toggle spring arrangement,see Figs. 4 and 5, for positively engaging the dogs on the gear 60 andthe clutch disc 68. When the lever 88 is disposed in the condition shownin Fig. 4, the tension spring 110 will serve through the medium of thelever 104 to urge the gear 60 away from the clutch disc 68. During thiscondition, the force transmitting lever 78 will not be operated aspreviously mentioned. However, engagement of the lever 88 with thestriker 20 results in the lever 88 being disposed in the position shownin Fig. 5, and the tension spring 110 will serve to displace the lever104 laterally, accordingly moving the gear 60 and the dogs 66 thereofinto engagement with the dogs 70 of the clutch disc 68 to operate thelever 78. Continued movement of the car along the track and theresultingengagement of the lever 88 with the striker 22 once more causes thelever 104 to assume the position shown in Fig. 4 whereafter thetie-dumping assembly 38 will not be operated.

In order to prevent the rear end of the lever 104 from being displacedfrom the shoulder 100 of the support portion 98, notches 112 and 113 areprovided in the support portion 98 onto which fit the bifurcated endportions 114 and 115 of lever 104.

The body member 26, see Figs. 6, 7 and 8, includes a downwardly openingchute including converging sides 118 and 120 extending inwardly towardeach other from opposed sides of the body member. The ties to bedispensed will be piled longitudinally of the chute as indicated at T, Tand T The side 120 terminates in a step-down portion 122, most clearlyseen in Fig. 7, and an intermediate portion of the step-down portion 122is cut out as most clearly seen in Fig. 8 to facilitate movementtherethrcugh of the tie-dispensing assembly 38. The ties will be gravityfed to the tie-dumping assembly as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.The side 124 of the body member 26 from which the portion 118 of thechute extends, incorporates adjacent the top 126 of the frame, alongitudinally extending discharge opening 128 for accommodatingtherethrough the ties which will be disposed laterally of the car as itmoves along the track. Extending angularly at opposite ends of theopening 128, are ramp elements 130 which engage opposite ends of theties as the tie-dumping assembly moves into the position shown in Fig.7, as will subsequently be described in detail.

The tie-dumping assembly includes a pair of longitudinally spacedsupport brackets 132 and 134 struck from the channel shape support '74and extending vertically from within the slot 84 of the frame, saidsupport 74 being secured at one end of the frame by a laterallyextending mounting tab 136 and screw 138 and secured at the other end bymeans of screw 74a. The brackets 132 and 134 have extending therebetweena support shaft 140, having journalled thereon, a tubular sleeve 142integral with a centrally located rib 144 of an arcuate conveyor member146. The conveyor member 146 is vertically pivotal about thelongitudinal axis of the shaft and includes at one edge, alongitudinally extending upwardly opening tie-receiving trough 148, thebottom portion 150 of the trough 148 being disposed in planarrelationship with the step-down portion 122, see Fig. 6, when thetie-dumping assembly is not being operated and disposed in the positionseen in Fig. 6. The step-down portion 122 will orient the tie T, seeFig. 6, in its proper position within the trough 148. Journalled on theshaft 140 adjacent the sleeve 142, is a vertically pivotal arcuate discelement 152 including in one edge, a laterally opening notch portion 154in which the end 82 of the force transmitting lever 78 extends, seeFigs. 9 and 11, for example.v The lever 152.

i.. W W

a ainst has journalled thereon one end of an elongated force,

transmitting rod 160, including a lateral abutment shaft portion 162engageable in the upwardly opening groove 156. A torsion spring 164 iscircumposed about the shaft 158, one leg 166 of which engages beneaththe trough 148 of the conveyor member146, the other leg, 168 of thespring engaging on top of the shaft 162' of the lever 160.

Operation When the tie-dumping-assembly 38 is not operated as previouslymentioned, the parts being in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, thetie T will extend horizontally within the trough 148. Engagement betweenthe dogs on gear 66 and clutch disc 68, will result in vertical pivotalmovement of the force transmitting lever 78. This vertical pivotalmovement will result in vertical pivotal movement of the conveyor member146 from the position shown in Fig. 6- to that of Fig. 7. The endportion 170 of the conveyor member will engage the topof the frame ofthe car and provide a stop to properly orient the trough 148 relative tothe step-down portion 122 of the chute. The vertical pivotal movement ofthe lever 78 results in force being transmitted through the lever 152 tothe rod 168 and pivotal movement of the conveyor member 146 will resultin the trough 148 passing between the ramp elements 131 and accordingly,the tie T will be discharged in the manner shown bythe dotted lines inFig. 7. It will be noted that the trough may engage the top of the frame24. If the conveyor member 46 reaches the position shown in Fig. 7 andthe-lever 78 still has some distance to travel, the shaft portion 162 ofthe rod 160 will rise slightly in the U-shaped groove156 of the lever152, thus preventing damage to the cooperating parts. Downward movementof the lever 78 from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 6 willresult in once more orienting the trough 148 of the conveyor member tothe position shown in Fig. 6, wherein the tie T will pass from the chuteportion 118, into the trough 148, see Fig. 7.

Considering Figs. 12 and 13, there is disclosed a modifled car includingmeans for dispensing the ties alternately from opposite sides of a bodymember .26 during movement of the car from the striker 20 to the striker22. Substantially all of the operating parts i.e., control means andpower transmitting means are identical. A modified conveyor member 146is provided, said conveyor member including along one edge a trough148', the lowermost portion 150' of which being disposable in planaralignment with arcuate orienting members 172 and 174. Opposite ends ofthe ties T will engage the orienting member 1'72 and 174 in the mannerseen in Fig. 12. The chute or hopper of the body member 26' includes apair of converging side portions 118' and 120 through which the conveyormember 146 will pivot. The conveyor mem her 146' includes longitudinallyof the edge opposite that upon which the trough 148 is formed a secondsimilar trough 148", the lowermost portion 150 of which being disposablein planar alignment with the orienting portions 172 and 174. The ties Tas seen in Fig. 13, will be alternately received and dispensed from thetroughs 148 and 143" in the manner indicated in Fig. 13. The torsionspring 164 will provide a lost-motion connection in the mannerpreviously referred to. The body member 26' of the car includes in itssides 124' and 124" adjacent the bottom thereof, longitudinallyextending elongated discharge openings 128 and 128", respectively.Disposed at opposite ends of the discharge openings just mentioned, aresuitable ramp portions 130' and 130" between which the trough portions148' and 14 respectively, pass.

Thebody'members-26 and 26' of the cars are retained.

on the frame by means of a single fastener. The frame of the car 18includes a horizontal retaining plate 176, retained on the frame bymeans of suitable screws 178 and providing a rearwardly projecting lipas most clearly seen in Fig. 2. The body member 26 incorporates anintegral forwardly extending lip 180, engageable beneath the lip formedby the plate 176, and the rear end wall'l82 0f the car, see Fig. 8,includes an inwardly extending flange 184. Theflange 184 is aperturedand has extending therethrough a suitable screw 186- received within atapped bore 188 of the frame of the car. The side of the chuteincorporates a transverse aperture 190, through which a screw driver maybe extended for engagement with the screw 186, and when the screw 186 isloosened, the body member 26 may be removed from the frame of the car.Referring to Fig. 12, the orienting.

member 174 incorporates an aperture 190 therethrough facilitating theengagement with the screw 186 for the same purpose.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred ex amples of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may bemade as do not depart from the spirit of the invention or thescope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wheeled toy rail car for automatically dumping ties progressivelyalong the path of travel of said car comprising a frame, means forstoring ties on said frame, power means supported on said frameconnected to said wheels, a tie-dumping assembly connected to said powermeans on said car including a movable member adjacent said tie-dumpingassembly, effective to engageeach tie in succession to move the tielaterally to dump it from said car when said car moves in the path oftravel of saidcar, power transmitting means on said frame connected tosaid power means and to said tie-dumping assembly for operating thelatter, and control means'on said frame operatively connected with saidpower transmitting means and including a displaceable forcetransmitting, member transversely attached to said frame for engaging a.fixed abutment during movement of the car along its path of travel foractivating said tie-dumping assembly.

2. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, in which said tie-dumpingassembly includes an oscillating conveyor member longitudinally attachedto said frame for depositing ties toward only one side of said car.

3. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, in which said forcetransmitting member is a horizontally pivotal actuating membertransversely extending beyond opposite sides of said frame operable toactivate and deactivate said power transmitting means upon engaging saidabutment.

4. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, in which said power meanscomprises a power shaft positively driven during movement of said car,said power transmitting means including clutch means drivingly engagingone end of a vertically pivotal force transmitting lever, the other endof said lever operatively engaging said tie-dumping assembly, said forcetransmitting member comprising a horizontally pivotal lever andincluding an operating portion extending laterally of said frame forengaging a fixed abutment separate from said car and selectivelyoperating said clutch means, a laterally displaceable clutch controllever operatively connected between said horizontally pivotal lever andclutch means, and biasing means urging said clutch control lever towarda control position.

5. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, including a body member onsaid frame, said body member including a downwardly-opening chuteoverlying said tie-dumping assembly and extending longitudinally of saidbody member, at least one tie-discharge portion at one side of said bodymember and below said chute for receiving ties therethrough, saidtie-dumping assembly including a vertically pivotal conveyor oscillatedby said power transmitting means and including a tie-receiving portionalternately alignable with said chute and discharge portion forreceiving a tie and subsequently discharging the same.

6. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 5, in'which said tie-receivingportion of said conveyor includes an up wardly-opening open-ended troughfor receiving an intermediate portion of a tie longitudinally therein,said chute including longitudinally spaced supports including a surfaceportion alignable with the lower surface of said trough for orientingindividual ties in said trough, said conveyor being movable between saidsupports.

7. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 6, including a ramp extendingangularly toward said tie-discharge portion, said ramp comprisinglongitudinally spaced portions between and beneath which said open-endedtrough portion passes for lifting a tie from said trough portion duringits movement toward said tie-discharge portion.

8. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, including a body member onsaid frame, said body member including a downwardly-opening chuteoverlying said tie-dumping assembly and extending longitudinally of saidbody member, a pair of tie-discharge portions at opposite sides of saidbody member and below said chute for receiving ties therethrough, saidtie-dumping assembly including a vertically pivotal conveyor oscillatedby said power transmitting means and including tie-receiving portionsalternately alignable with said chute and discharge portions for receiving a tie and subsequently discharging the same.

9. A toy rail car as set forth in claim 1, including impositive drivemeans interposed between said power transmitting means and tie-dumpingassembly to accommodate for excessive force from said power transmittingmeans, a torsion spring connected at one end to said tie-dumpingassembly, a vertically pivotal lever operatively connected to said forcetransmitting means, a second lever having a U-shaped groove axiallysupporting said tie-dumping assembly located on the other end of saidtorsion spring and said vertically pivotal lever to'allow saidtie-dumping assembly to rise in said U-shaped groove thus preventingdamage to said tie-dumping assembly.

10. A toy electric train including, in combination, a

car body, a wheel assembly mounted on said car body, a-

current conducting collector roller engaging the power rail of a trackto electrically power said wheel assembly to move said train, theinvention comprising a constantly driven gear driven by said wheelassembly, a stationary shaft supporting said gear, a radially extendingclutch dog portion axially attached to said gear, other clutch dogportions freely rotatable and axially spaced from said clutch dogportion supported by said shaft, a clutch plate axially attached to saidother clutch dog portion, a laterally extending mounting pineccentrically disposed on the other side of said clutch plate, a leverpivotal in a vertical plane about its central portion having in one enda longitudinally extending slot engaging said laterally extendingmounting pin, an arcuate disc member pivotal in a vertical plane havinga lateral opening notch on one 'side to receive the other end of saidlever, an oscillatable segment member having a pocket cut into itsperiphery movably attached to said arcuate disc, means to axially movesaid clutch dog portion attached to said gear to engage the dog portionattached to said plate for moving said oscillatable segment member toprogressively deposit ties carried in said pocket along the sides of thetrack as the toy electric train moves along its path of travel.

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